AFAN at Cannes 2026

Date:

Thursday, 14 May

A New Frontier for Global Distribution and Regional Collaboration

The Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN) has wrapped up an intensive, highly impactful week at the 79th Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film. From high-level working sessions aboard the iconic Art Explora Boat to packed creative craft panels at the Gray d'Albion, Cannes 2026 marked a pivotal milestone in AFAN’s mission to strengthen institutional bridges within Asia and between the Asian and European cinema ecosystems.

This year's presence was defined by a major, deliberate expansion of focus toward independent theatrical distribution and concrete cross-border financing frameworks.

Institutional Partnerships: A Strategic Focus on Global Distribution

AFAN initiated its formal Cannes schedule on Thursday, 14 May, by co-hosting an exclusive Distributors and Film Funds Working Session in collaboration with the Marché du Film and Europa Distribution.

Set against the unique backdrop of the Art Explora Boat, this cross-continental roundtable brought together our team alongside leadership from Europa Distribution, EFAD (European Film Agency Directors) and CAACI (Conference of Ibero-American Audiovisual and Cinematic Authorities).

Driven by our close collaboration with Europa Distribution, this roundtable brought public film funds and independent distributors into the same room to discuss hurdles in global film circulation and solution approaches of different regions. Discussions centered on discovering practical, data-driven strategies to bridge the gap between international film financing and independent theatrical distribution—ensuring structurally diverse, independent global cinema continues to find viable paths to theatrical screens worldwide.

[Press Release Link: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/491689/ ]

Internal Strategy & Future Horizons: The AFAN General Assembly

Friday, 15 May, was dedicated to refining AFAN’s internal roadmap and welcoming international delegations to expand our regional and international dialogues.

The Closed Session & The AFAN Distribution Fund

During the morning's closed-door annual review, AFAN members evaluated active regional initiatives and audited administrative frameworks. A major focal point of this year’s assembly was a strong push by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) to expand AFAN's scope.

Recognizing that financing is only half the battle, KOFIC championed a key initiative to move forward on the creation of a dedicated AFAN Distribution Fund. This proposed fund aims to directly support the theatrical release and circulation of member-country films across our respective territories, transforming how Asian cinema moves between borders.

The Open Session with Observers

Following the internal review, AFAN opened its doors to international observers and institutional stakeholders, including representatives from:

  • Japan: Ministry of Culture, Unijapan/TIFFCOM, Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), and the National Film Archive of Japan.

  • India: National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

  • France & Europe: CNC, EFAD, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

  • Canada: Telefilm Canada.

The open forum focused on knowledge exchange, highlighted by two comprehensive country presentations regarding financial incentives and co-production frameworks:

  1. India (NFDC): Opened with a deep-dive into South Asia's latest cross-border collaboration programs, offering an overview of updated state-level financial incentives designed to attract international co-productions and presented the biggest festival and markets in India.

  2. Japan: Followed with a detailed presentation tracking the current evolution of their domestic film ecosystem and their expanding frameworks for global strategic partnerships.

🎬 The AFAN Spotlight Panels: Creativity & Craft

On Friday afternoon, AFAN hosted two back-to-back public panel discussions at the Gray d'Albion (Esterel 1), highlighting both the logistical architecture behind independent co-production projects and the evolving craft of the region's top screen talent.

Spotlight I: Praying to the Gods of Coproduction

  • Speakers: Sompot Chidgasornpongse, Kissada Kamyoung, Lai Weijie, Elizabeth Wijaya, Giovanni Rahmadeva

This session served as a case study tracking the complex, six-year journey of 9 Temples to Heaven, which celebrated its World Premiere at Cannes 2026 within the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des cinéastes).

Conceived at the turbulent onset of the global pandemic in 2020, the project stands as a model for modern multi-country independent collaboration between Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and France. Panelists shared transparent insights into how their creative teams aligned, navigated international public funds, and managed the intricate logistics of cross-border budgeting. Director Sompot Chidgasornpongse also shared his artistic transition from assistant-directing masterworks like Cemetery of Splendour and Memoria to helming his own acclaimed fiction feature debut.

Spotlight II: Cannes Critics' Week Next Step Studio 2026 – Conversations on the Craft of Acting

  • Panelists: Prilly Latuconsina, Yusuf Mahardika, Omara Esteghlal, Agnes Naomi, Nazira C. Noer, Asmara Abigail

The second hour pivoted on-screen talents, gathering the casts of the Southeast Asian short films developed through the Cannes Critics' Week (Semaine de la Critique) Next Step Studio 2026 initiative—including Holy Crowd (Indonesia/Malaysia), Original Wound (Indonesia/Myanmar), Annisa (Indonesia/Philippines), and Mothers Are Mothering (Indonesia/Singapore).

In an intimate conversation, the actors discussed the creative adjustments required when collaborating with foreign directors and crew across language barriers. The panel also provided an evaluation of the current boom in Indonesian cinema from a talent perspective, outlining why intentional cross-border movement between Asia and Europe is vital to bringing authentic, culturally nuanced narratives to global audiences.

🥂 Networking Working Sessions & Next Steps

Advancing structural industry ties requires deliberate, informal spaces to build trust. AFAN concluded its Cannes agenda with two vital networking working lunches:

  • EFAD Networking Lunch (CNC Beach | Sunday, 17 May): AFAN members met informally with European agency directors to cultivate the personal relationships that serve as foundations for future cross-boarder collaboration.

  • AFAN x EFAD Working Lunch (Monday, 18 May | Cannelle): A highly focused strategy session dedicated to ironing out immediate, actionable steps regarding bilateral data sharing, institutional knowledge exchanges, and co-production matching events slated for later this year.

Looking Ahead

The AFAN Secretariat extends its deepest gratitude to our host venues, co-organizers, phenomenal panelists, and our dedicated members and observers. Your active participation ensured that Asian cinema remained a central, innovative focal point of the global industry dialogues in Cannes.

Stay tuned for our upcoming 2026 initiatives and events!